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The cartoon character Digger the Dermatophyte from the old Lamisil commercial did some good in getting everybody concerned and aware about toenail fungus. That ad campaign is still running in people’s heads and it is high time we answer that all-important question: “Is nail fungus contagious?”
According to Dr. Andrew Schneider, a podiatrist from Houston, Texas, the answer to whether toenail fungus is contagious is that it is possible but not probably. It is for the reason that often times; nail fungus only happens in one or two toenails.
If all five toes are sharing in one shoe or a sock and not have all five toenails infected, how can that fungus, that’s well encapsulated underneath your toenail, reach the other person’s foot, even if it is just a few inches away?
Obviously, you got that toenail fungus somewhere but, it is highly probable that it did not come from another person’s toenail. It is probably a dermatophyte from an Athlete’s Foot infection or from some other sources.
So, is toe nail fungus contagious? It’s not but it does not lower the chances of you getting it anyway.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter where you got it. The focus of attention should be on prevention because wherever it came from, it is quite prevalent and if you have it, you should be more concerned about the cure.
Based on Dr. Schneider’s expert opinion, we should not be too worried about catching the fungus infection from another person’s infected toenail however; this revelation should not cause us to be careless about proper hygiene. On the contrary, Dr. Schneider’s statement should keep us constantly on our toes because we don’t need to see another person with the infection to create the possibility of being infected. The fact is that fungus is all over and we should always be wary that Digger the Dermatophyte is just sitting somewhere, waiting for us.
Here is a list of possible ways on how dermatophytes can get to your nail beds.
Since fungal infections are contagious, a dermatophyte can come from another fungal infection from another part of your body or from someone else such as in someone else’s athlete’s foot infection.
As a general rule, you should never take fungal infections lightly because they can spread fast and that’s what they were born to do. If you have a fungus infection anywhere on your body, it is not a question of if but a question of when they will spread and infect other parts. Take action on every fungus infection before it spreads and make matters worse.
The nail fungus might have started from your fingernails and have transferred to your toenail because of heavy scratching.
Some people are in the habit of using their fingernails to clean off the dirt that has accumulated just under the tips of the toenails. If you have fingernail fungus, the dermatophytes can easily transfer to your toenails especially if you cut your skin in the process of cleaning.
Fungus thrives on moist areas so, they can enter through some cuts and cracks on your toes when you soak your feet in water or walk on wet floors.
Waking barefoot on the wet floors of public places like community shower rooms for public gymnasiums and swimming facilities is one sure way of inviting dermatophytes. The sheer number of people using such facilities will increase the chances of spreading dermatophytes in the fungus-conducive moist flooring. Walking bare feet will give them a better chance of getting into your toe bed nails through cuts and small openings.
A toenail that has been damage will have very inviting openings where dermatophytes can easily enter. Our nails are protective coverings. When they are damaged, all forms of bacteria, germs and fungus can easily enter and create an infection.
Conditions such as diabetes, psoriasis or just plain poor state of health will put you at greater risk of being infected.
Anything that will lower your resistance and immune system will increase your chances of being infected with all kinds of viruses, bacteria including fungus. It is important to be extra careful and more diligent about proper hygienic practices when your immune system is at a low state of health.
Dermatophytes prefer humid climates. So if you are living in such conditions, there will be more dermatophytes lurking all around you.
The condition of humidity will make you want to wear less clothing, footwear is one of them. While the tropical condition is so inviting to be more casual and daring, be reminded that being in such environmental conditions will increase your exposure to toenail fungus-causing dermatophytes. Wear shoes or at least slippers all the time.
If you have toenail fungus, all the information about it being contagious and a list of preventive measures will all be second to a more important topic on how to treat the condition.
Topical solutions are always available and very effective for killing the fungus and reversing the condition of toenail fungus. However, if you wait too long, you might reach that point where a doctor needs to remove the entire toenail to get to the fungus.
Don’t wait for this to happen. One of the best products to apply on your toenail fungus is Funginix by Sisquoc Healthcare Corporation because it is a clinically tested safe and effective toenail fungus-fighter that you can easily administer and apply in the comforts of your home.
Is nail fungus contagious? It’s not. But, if you have it, this statement should not make you think anything less of it. It can cause a lot of trouble if you keep it untreated. Buy Funginix and start treating your toenail fungus immediately while you still can.